VISITORS to Stockton on Friday can try their hand at Zumba, massage or smoothie-making as the town hosts its first healthy market.

Children and adults can try cycling or dabble in the gardening stall and find out how to grow their own produce.

Chefs will be showing people how to make nutritious, but inexpensive meals, and youngsters can learn new football skills with qualified coaches. There will also be a climbing wall to try out.

Health professionals will be on hand offering advice and representatives from Middlesbrough Football club will have their Wii for people to try out.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said: “This is the first in Stockton Council’s diverse and interesting programme of specialist markets coming to the town centre over coming months to attract visitors and shoppers into the town and to complement what the popular weekly market has to offer.”

The council is supporting the expansion of all markets in Stockton Town Centre as part of its multi-million programme to regenerate the High Street.